Harry Silver

It didn’t make sense. Harrison should have been a parselmouth. Everything else added up, Harry had double, triple, quadrupled checked it all in several books. Harrison had the scar and he had complained several times of getting headaches in Defence Against The Dark Arts meaning he still had the link with Voldemort. Yet for some reason he hadn’t gained the ability to speak parseltongue. Weeks rolled by as Harry tried to figure it out, pouring over various books in the library yet he still couldn’t determine where it went wrong.

It wouldn’t be such a big deal if it wasn’t going to make all of second year a huge problem. There was no way Harrison would ever figure out the basilisk in second year, not to mention it gave Voldemort a clear advantage over him.

Harry's research meant he spent the next few weeks in the library for a lot of his time outside of the classroom. When pressured he simply argued that he was trying to learn more about wizarding culture as a muggleborn, something most of his friends accepted.

He’d been at it so long that before he knew it Hogwarts was decorated for Halloween, pumpkins, fake (he hoped) skulls and cobwebs lined every nook and cranny of the school. Many of the purebloods were getting more excited by the day, after Voldemort's defeat Halloween had become a major celebration in wizarding Britain. And once the muggleborns had it explained to them they too brought into the celebration. 

Harry remembered how energetic the celebrations had been in Gryffindor. Unsurprisingly things weren’t so out of control in Slytherin, though it wasn’t purely down to their belief in etiquette. This was a celebration of The Dark Lord's downfall and the defeat of his forces, several of whose family members were current Slytherin students. Nobody was foolish enough to outright support Voldemort but it was clear to Harry there were more than a few older students who weren’t as excited about the celebrations as others.

Harry was also making sure to keep an eye on Harrison, the anniversary of the murder of your parents tended to put a damper on most parties, certainly Harry always had a pit in his stomach this time of year. But Harrison appeared to be doing fine, he had become closer to Neville and the other Hufflepuffs, continued to work well with Harry in potions and was actually starting to get on with the Slytherins. 

All in all Harry thought the year was going well, he had noticed that Harrison didn’t appear as close to Hagrid this time around. He’d seen them chatting in the corridors a few times but as far as he could tell Harrison hadn’t visited Hagrid's shack. Which meant he wouldn’t see the newspaper about the Gringotts break in, the entire trigger for their hunt for The Philosopher's Stone. But that was a problem for another day.  

Today was the day of the Halloween feast and Harry had another stack of history books to return to the library. Once again they had provided him with no new revolutions or clues as to why Harrison wasn’t a parselmouth. He slid each book back into its place with a sigh before turning to leave. As he did so he came across a great mane of bushy brown hair.

“Oh hey Hermione.”

Hermione turned from where she was putting back her own books and beamed at him, “Harry! I didn’t expect to see anybody else in the history section, are you getting a head start on Professor Binns' essay?”

Harry had lived through Binns' classes twice now and he still had no idea what each one was about, “Ah yeah… something like that. How have you been Hermione? It feels like it’s been ages since I saw you.”

“Oh I’m fine,” Hermione responded cheerily as the pair started to walk out of the library together, “Lessons have been even more amazing than I thought and just as challenging, I’m still worried at some point I’m going to fall behind.”

Unlikely considering Hermione was top in nearly every subject.

“And how is Ravenclaw?”

“Oh! It’s… Good,” Hermione said although her smile faltered slightly, “Everyone is always willing to answer questions and lend you a book.”

Harry could hear the fake joy in Hermione’s voice, “But?”

“Nobody really… talks,” Hermione said with a sigh, “I mean I get along with most of my housemates but all everybody does in the evenings is read or study. It is too much to ask just to have a conversation about the ethics of love potions!?”

“Uhhhh… No?” Harry said, hoping his answer would trigger Hermione to start debating him on said potions.

“Exactly! I mean what’s the point of learning all this stuff if we never debate or discuss it!?”

Harry chuckled, “I suppose you make a good point, but it can’t be all bad?”

“I suppose not and at least the other girls in my dorm care more about homework than gossip. So how’s Slytherin? I can’t imagine it’s um… well…” Hermione trailed off awkwardly.

“Pleasant for a muggleborn in the house everyone thinks are blood purists?” Harry suggested to which Hermione blushed and nodded.

“Ah it’s not so bad, sure there are probably a few people in there who would throw a little party if I got expelled but there’s also good people, some of them even like me.”

Hermione shook her head, “You’re… a little odd you know that?”

“Pot meet kettle.”

Hermione huffed but there was a slight smile on her face, “Was that really-”

“For Merlin’s sake Tonks! Look where you’re going!”

“Oh come off it Weasley, you’re the one who hobbles around like an elephant!”

Harry and Hermione turned a corner to find Tonks and Ron picking themselves up off the floor, books strewn everywhere. Ron had an annoyed look on his face while Tonks was clearly trying to control her abilities from the look of pain and frustration on her face.

“You guys ok?” Harry asked.

Ron shrugged from where he was picking books up off the ground, “Yeah we’re fine I- Oh. What do you want?” He said as he looked at Harry and scowled.

“For exams to be cancelled?” Harry replied after some thought causing Hermione to gasp in and Tonks to snort.

“Wh-What?” Ron said, his scowl turning to a look of bemusement.

“Oh hey Harry, what’s up?” Tonks said with a toothy grin as she got to her feet.

Harry shrugged, “The ceiling. This is Hermione by the way. Hermione, meet Tonks.”

“A pleasure,” Hermione said, although she was glancing at Tonk’s vibrant pink hair in slight suspicion, she probably thought it was a sign of hooliganism.

“Nice ta meet ya!” 

Ron’s brain finally seemed to catch up with the situation and he turned angrily to Tonks, “You’re friends with him!?”

Tonks folded her arms and glared at him, “Yeah? So?”

“He’s a snake?”

“Incorrect. I have four limbs and no fangs. Although I wish I did, fangs would be fun.”

“Would you calm down Weasley,” Tonks said with an eye roll, “So he’s a Slytherin? Who cares, he’s one of the first half decent wizards I’ve met in this place.”

“He’s the enemy!” Ron protested.

“Only to treacle tarts.”

“Would you stop that!?” Ron snapped, turning his ire in Harry’s direction.

“Oh relax Weasley,” Tonks said, “He’s a Slytherin, so what? So was my mother and besides, you’re really gonna tell me there aren’t people in Gryffindor’s who are assholes?”

“I mean sure. But at least they’re not pureblooded bigots like him!” Ron said and pointed at Harry.

Tonks, Harry and Hermione all stared at him, a few seconds ticking by until Tonks doubled over in laughter. 

“Merlin Weasley, are you serious right now!?”

Ron’s anger simply grew, “What? What’s so funny!?”

“Hary is a muggleborn…” Hermione said, seemingly shocked by the sheer ignorance of this new redhead.

“Wha- You are!?”

“All my life,” Harry (technically) lied.

“Then what are you doing in Slytherin!?”

“You mean when I’m not plotting world domination?” Harry said with a shrug, “Mostly playing exploding snap.”

“You should be studying!” Hermione said, outraged at Harry’s comment.

“Well well well, what do we have here?” A voice said before two lanky boys appeared behind Ron.

“Is little Ronnie-kins finally making some female friends?”

Ron blushed as Fred and George smirked down at him, “What!? I have female friends!”

“Name one.” Fred said.

“Uh… Tonks is my friend!”

“Nope!” Tonks said as she stopped laughing and glared, “Try again.”

Ron spluttered and turned to Hermione who cringed slightly and stepped behind Harry.

“Don’t look at me,” Harry said and put his hands up, “If I was a girl I’d already be too popular because of my looks.”

Ron gave him another confused look before finally huffing and storming off down the hallway, his older brothers watching him go.

“You know Fred. I fear he may never get a girlfriend.”

“That’s no concern of ours brother!” George said and turned back to the first years with a smile, “Why if it isn’t our favourite pink haired first year and muggleborn Slytherin!”

Harry frowned, “I thought I was the not-brother of The-Boy-Who-Lived.”

“You are!”

“But Harrison doesn’t seem to like that title so we brainstormed.”

“Thanks for getting rid of your brother guys,” Tonks said with a sigh, “Although I should probably apologise, I mean I did walk into him after all.”

“And the universe thanks you for it.” George said with a low bow as Fred turned to Hermione.

“Another first year? You guys are everywhere, are you breeding?”

Hermione squeaked slightly, “Um… I’m Hermione Granger.”

Fred gave her a wide smile, “Well I’m George!”

“And I’m Fred.”

“No you’re not.” Hermione said with a frown as she recalled their previous comments, “Are you trying to trick me?”

“Ahhh a smart one this brother.”

“Well she appears to be a Ravenclaw, we’ll have to come up with more elaborate pranks to target this one.”

“P-Pranks!?” Hermione stuttered out, paling slightly.

“Come on guys,” Tonks said with a slight frown, “Don’t go scaring her.”

George winced slightly before giving Hermione a more genuine smile, “Don’t worry Hermione, we weren’t being serious. Though we are prank masters we generally only target people that deserve it.”

“Didn’t you turn Cedric’s hair blue last year?”

George let out a very girl-like scream and almost leapt into Fred’s arms as Harrison appeared behind the pair, giving them an amused smile.

“Harrison!” George said as he clutched his chest, “Don’t do that to my old heart!”

“Hi everyone!” Harrison said, waving at the group, “What are you all doing here?”

“Me and Harry ran into each other in the library.” Hermione explained.

“And I was just about to head back to the dorms before the feast.” Tonk’s explained as everyone turned to the twins.

“Trust us-”

“-It’s better if you don’t know what we’re doing.”

“I hope it’s nothing against school rules!” Hermione snapped.

Fred gasped, “How could you accuse us of such a thing?”

“And after such a long and well founded friendship.” George said with a shake of his head, “Worry not Hermione, we’re simply exploring! This time near the dungeons, specifically the east end! The further away from the Slytherin’s we are the better.”

“Uh… no offence Harry.”

Harry just waved them off.

“Won’t you miss the feast?” Harrison asked them with a frown.

Fred shrugged, “Eh, maybe. But we know how to get to the kitchens in a worst case scenario.”

“I don’t think I want to know anymore…” Hermione muttered before clearing her throat, “Well it was nice to see you all but I’m heading back to Ravenclaw Tower, there’s still time to get some studying in before the feast.”

“Ravenclaw’s…” Tonks muttered, “I’ll come with you, our common rooms aren’t that far apart anyway.”

“Yeah, I think I’m going to head back too, I need some help on my herbology essay and Neville is a whizz at that subject.” Harrison said.

“And we’re going to do absolutely nothing prank related!” Fred declared as George nodded along.

“We were going to hang out with Ron.

“But alas our brother is much of a dunderhead for that.”

Everyone waved goodbye and went their separate ways. Harry was relieved Hermione would be attending the feast this year and not crying in the bathroom. Although Ron was becoming a bit of a problem he wouldn’t be able to ignore forever.

As Harry turned to walk down the stairs to the dungeons he paused. Leaning against the wall, just round the corner from where everyone had been chatting was Theodore Nott. The final male first year in Slytherin.

Nott was enigma, though he generally remained with Malfoy’s group he had never antagonised Harry or even the Gryffindors. In fact Harry had rarely heard him talk at all, always just hanging out in the background. Harry wasn’t entirely sure where he stood with him.

“Nott. What are you doing here?”

“Well I was heading to the library,” Nott said with a small smirk, “Then I came across the most interesting scene.”

“Dumbledore and Snape making out?”

Nott chuckled, “Humour. It puts most people at ease, makes you seem friendly. It’s a smart tactic, one I’m not too fond of but each to their own.”

“Um… thank you?” Harry said with a raised eyebrow.

“So,” Nott said, kicking himself off the wall and turning to Harry, “The-Boy-Who-Lived, The Genius Ravenclaw, The Infamous Weasley Twins and The Metamorphmagus Gryffindor. Quite the group.”

Harry narrowed his eyes, “How did you know about Tonks?”

Nott gave him a smug smile, “Pink hair, even in a magical school, is extremely rare. Wizards don’t have hair dye like muggles do and cosmetic spells are too complicated for a first year to maintain that good of a result. Not to mention, whenever she gets riled up she ducks into a closet. It wasn’t hard. Really, it was nearly as easy as realising you’re a parselmouth.”

Harry’s body froze and his face paled, “H-How…?”

“Oh come on,” Nott said with an eye roll, “I’m not as ignorant as Malfoy or Zabini. Every time that snake hisses to let us into the common room even the first years shiver slightly. Nobody who isn’t a parselmouth likes hearing it. You, on the other hand, don’t even react, so either you’ve got one hell of a poker face or you’re a parselmouth. Don’t worry, I don’t think anybody else realises, not even Snape.”

Harry crossed his arms, glaring at Nott as his defences rose, “So what's this? Are you going to blackmail me or reveal my secret to the world?”

“Oh nothing so dull,” Nott said with a chuckle, “I’m not so idiotic to think that revealing that information would do more harm to you than good or that you would even take blackmail, you seem far too stubborn for that. Besides, I think letting you have it will make things more interesting in the years to come.”

“Interesting?”

Nott’s smile fell as he gained a serious look, “What do you know of my family?”

Harry shrugged, “Not much. You’re not up there with the Malfoys or the Greengrass' but you’re not the bottom of the rut either. You’ve generally supported the darker politics though most were still surprised when you outright joined Voldemort.”

Nott raised an eyebrow, “You speak Voldemort's name? Few do.”

“I could say the same.” Harry said, a little surprised, Nott was the first person on that side of the war Harry knew who said the name.

“Point taken. Now as to my family, you are correct, we haven't quite fallen like the Zabini’s but unlike them we’ve lost respect on both sides. The light side sees us as Death Eaters while the dark side thinks we have no value. We might be on the same level as Potter but unlike him we’re not the chosen ones.”

“Is there a point to all this?” Harry asked, wondering if Nott wanted his connection to Harrison.

“My family used to rule this country,” Nott said with a scowl, “We were the top family, not even the Greengrass' could touch us and the Malfoy’s would beg to be married into the family. I want that back, I want the Notts to rise to top again. To do that I need to make sure to topple the other families while making sure as the years go by that my own power and influence increases.”

“That's a lot of big talk for an eleven year old,” Harry pointed out.

“Maybe,” Nott confessed with a shrug, “But you can never be too early for these things. I figured it would be easy. Play the quiet schoolboy who got average grades, get close to that moronic Malfoy first and then weave my way into Greengrass' good books. A way into both families to start dismantling them when I’m older. But then you come along and pit the two against each other, forcing me to choose between them.”

Harry had to roll his eyes, “We’ll I’m sorry that me making friends is such an inconvenience to you.”

Nott snorted, “I thought so too… At first. Then I kept watch of you. And I have to say, I was impressed. Getting close to The-Boy-Who-Lived before anybody else could? Making sure you got in the good books of the Greengrass'? Even starting rare crosshouse friendships, but not with anybody of course, with some of the smartest and most talented people in our year.”

“You really enjoy putting spins on things like these don’t you?” Harry said, growing annoyed, “I didn’t go after anyone. I made friends.”

“Please Silver.” Nott said, his eyes narrowing, “Everyone else in our year might be an idiot but I’m not. Maybe you really are friends with them but you’re still a Slytherin, don’t tell me your mind isn’t making the tactical decisions along with this. You must be able to see the benefit of a group like that sticking together until you graduate Hogwarts. After all, it wasn’t all a coincidence. Didn’t you volunteer to take Tonks to the hospital wing? Didn’t you invite the Granger girl to your compartment on the train? Malfoy might think he’s a great manipulator and tactician because he uses Daddy’s money to bribe and threaten people into doing his bidding but you? You’re the real deal, a true Slytherin. A master chess player hiding behind a sarcastic friendly muggleborn orphan.”

“Then there’s that wand you use,” Nott said and Harry felt the cold chill of his want in his pocket, “I almost laughed when I first saw it. It looked like you picked it up off the street. But then you cast magic powerful even for a pureblood first year, let alone a muggleborn. You might not remember but during Defence Against the Dark Arts last week I went to pick up my wand, only to grab yours off the table by mistake. It was like grabbing a shard of ice, had I held on too long I’ve no doubt I would have lost a finger. I don’t care what anyone says, that isn’t a normal wand.”

“Ok, so I’ve got a freaky wand and some decent friends. Your revelations shock me yet I still don’t see why this is all ground breaking news to talk to me about.” Harry replied with a grunt, Nott was smart, but he didn’t exactly seem like a threat.

“I suppose not really,” Nott said, “It’s just that you’ve surprised me so far. I can’t quite put my finger on it but there’s something about you that doesn’t add up. A strange wand, a skilled manipulator and what I imagine will be a powerful wizard. It’s funny really, half of our house hates you yet you might be the perfect embodiment of a Slytherin.”

“Great,” Harry droned, his voice dripping with sarcasm, “Are we getting to the point where you ask me to marry you?”

Nott chuckled darkly, “I’m afraid not, I simply wanted to meet. Properly that is. Afterall, I suspect you are probably the greatest threat to me in the entire school.”

“And what if I told everyone about this little conversation?” Harry threatened though even he knew it was a bluff.

“Don’t insult us both,” Nott said with a scowl, “You gain nothing by doing that, not to mention who would believe you anyway? Theodore Nott, the quiet pureblood with average grades is actually plotting to take down the big wizarding families? We both know it’s a bluff. Besides, I think it’ll be more interesting this way.”

“So what? Is this a declaration of war?”

“Oh don’t be so dramatic Harry,” Nott said with an eye roll, “Like you said, we’re still first years, the most I can do at this point is set up a few valuable alliances for later in life. Once the years start ticking by though… well I’m looking forward to seeing how much of a fight you’ll put up.”

Nott didn’t give Harry a chance to respond, instead turning and walking towards the library, “See you around Harry, enjoy the feast won’t you?”

Harry watched him walk away, his teeth grinding together. Nott had the gall to accuse him of manipulating his friends!? I mean sure, he’d set a few things up, pushed a few events into place to make sure certain people met him and he gained certain friends. But they had been friends before, technically, and it wasn’t like he was doing it to use them.

Harry shook his head of those thoughts and stormed towards the common room. Nott was right about one thing, dealing with Malfoy was easy, despite what he may think he was hardly a great politician and manipulator. But Nott? Harry had a feeling he had just made a new enemy that wouldn’t go down so easily.

The Halloween feast was in full swing. Surprisingly, though the main course had been impressive, most students hadn’t eaten too much, instead saving themselves for the towers of toffee apples, sticky toffee pudding and fruit crumble that came afterwards. Dudley probably would have fainted at the sight of huge bowls filled with ice cream and sweets. Even Daphne put aside her health conscious diet to devour an entire bowl of chocolate trifle.

“Harry slow down for Merlin’s sake!” Blaise scolded as Harry practically forced entire slices of treacle tart into his mouth.

“Ca-n’t… Might… shnot… get… nother… chance!”

“What are you talking about?” Tracey said with a laugh, “The feast won’t be over for like another hour.”

“Besides, isn't this your second tart? I know you’re thin Harry but even you need self control.” Daphne said, a look of both disgust and amazement at Harry’s ability to devour treacle.

Of course from Tracey’s perspective she was right. The feast had another hour to go before curfew demanded the tables be cleared and the students returned to their dorms. Of course Harry knew that this wouldn’t play out as everyone thought. So he was trying to ram as much treacle tart down his throat until-

“TRRRROOOOOLLLLLLL! TROLL IN THE DUNGEON!”

Quirrell ran through the now silent great hall, screaming like a madman with a pale terrified face before fainting in the middle of the room. In another life the man really could have been a fantastic Shakespearean actor.

Then the room erupted.

Tracey screamed.

Blaise panicked and knocked both his and Daphne's plates off the table.

Daphne's eyes went wide and horror spread across her usually stoic face.

Harry ate another slice of treacle tart.

“Silence!” Dumbledore cried over the crowds, “Prefects escort your houses back to their dorm room! Teachers with me!”

Everybody scrambled to flee the Great Hall, sweets long forgotten as every student fled in fear. 

Well.

Every student except Harry who decided his best bet was to attempt to stuff an entire treacle tart into his pocket.

“SILVER I SWEAR TO MERLIN IF THAT TROLL GETS US I’LL KILL YOU!” Blaise shouted as he grabbed the back of Harry’s robe and hauled him towards the door.

Harry relented, tears in his eyes as the tart fell to the floor, and followed his friends to the chaos at the door. Every student was trying to get through at once, elbows being thrown into faces as they climbed their way over each other to get back to their dorms as screams filled the area. Harry watched as Blaise, Daphne and Tracey all disappeared into the fray.

Being as small as he was, Harry had no desire to be trampled to death and decided to wait for a few minutes until the chaos had died down. At least he’d seen Hermione at the feast this time, meaning he didn’t need to rescue her and face the troll.

“Harry!” A voice cried as someone yanked at his elbow.

Harry blinked in surprise as he was faced with a terrified Tonks and Harrison, “Guys? Shouldn’t you be getting back to your houses?”

“The twins!” Tonks gasped out, “They weren’t at the feast!”

“So? We saw them earlier and- Shit.” Harry cursed as he realised the twins said they were going to miss the feast to explore the dungeons.

“We have to go warn them,” Harrison said, determination in his eyes.

“Do you know how to get down to that area of the dungeons?” Tonks said.

“I don’t,” Harry admitted, “But I know someone who does.”

Harry turned to the crowded door, hoping that his glasses didn’t fail him at this moment. Then, even among the taller students, he spied a head of bushy brown hair near the back of the crowd. He ran forward, grabbing the back of Hermione’s robe and pulling her out of the mess.

“Hermione!”

“Harry!?” Hermione gasped, she looked like she’d been hit in the face with an elbow based on the bruise, “What are you doing!?”

“Do you know how to get to the area of the dungeons the twins were going to explore!?”

“What? We have to leave!”

“Hermione!” Harrison said, stepping forward and grabbing her shoulders, “The twins are still down there and they don’t know about the troll, we need to go and warn them.”

Hermione's eyes widened in horror, “No! We need to tell a teacher!”

“What teachers, they’re all gone!” Tonks said and indicated to the front table which was now completely absent of staff.

Hermione bit her lip, “But we were instructed to-”

“Hermione I know rules are important,” Harry said, right now they didn’t have time for Hermione’s teacher worship, “But Fred and George could die if we don’t, are rules really more important than saving lives.”

“Ok ok!” Hermione said, finally relenting, “Just follow me, but we get them and then head straight back to our dorms ok?”

“Deal,” Harry said and Harrison and Tonks nodded in agreement.

Hermione quickly took them through a side door in the hall, the four students running at full speed through the winding halls of Hogwarts. Harry silently thanked Hermione’s almost religious study of Hogwarts a History, which had a fully detailed map in. She managed to lead them straight to the dungeons that Fred and George had supposedly been exploring.

“Where do we go from here!?” Harrison shouted as the four ran down a wide corridor.

“Well, I think if we go left up ahead that should take us to them.” Hermione responded.

As it turned out she was right, because before the four could reach that corridor Fred and George strolled around the corner, looking particularly smug with themselves. When they caught sight of the four sprinting first years their smiles turned to confusion.

“Uh… what are you guys doing?”

“Yeah, shouldn’t you be at the feast?”

“We-We came to rescue you,” Tonks panted as she took deep sharp breaths.

The twins frowned, “Rescue us from what?”

Behind the twins the wall suddenly exploded, chunks of rock were strewn across the floor as dust filled the area. It was quickly followed by a rotten smell, like week old fish and burnt rubber rolled into one. A moment later a great green hulking troll stumbled through, its huge club in one hand as it sniffed the area, turning to the group.

Fred and George paled as Hermione screamed.

“From that!” Harrison shouted as everyone started to step back.

Harry could only watch the troll and sigh.

“Not again.”